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Justice News

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney’s Office

Northern District of Mississippi

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

West and Hardy Plea Guilty to Forgery

OXFORD, Miss - Felicia C. Adams, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Mississippi, Craig Caldwell, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service, and Special Agent in Charge Gabriel L. Grchan, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation announced that:

Sadie West, 35, of Greenwood, Mississippi, and Mary Ann Hardy, 38, of Greenville, Mississippi, pled guilty on April 15, 2014 before United States District Judge Sharion Aycock, in Aberdeen, Mississippi. Both West and Hardy pled guilty to count one of an indictment, charging each with conspiracy to pass United States Treasury checks bearing a forged endorsement or signature as well as conspiracy to pass forged commercial checks.

West remains out on a pre-existing bond while Hardy is being detained pending sentencing, which will take place following the completion of a presentence report. At sentencing, West and Hardy face a maximum possible penalty of five years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years supervised release.

Malcolm Alexander, 39, and Jacarda Lawrence, 39, both of Greenville, recently pled guilty to similar charges in this matter. Alexander pled guilty to one count of conspiracy and one count of passing a forged commercial check while Lawrence pled guilty to one count of passing a forged commercial check. Alexander faces a maximum possible penalty of five years imprisonment on the conspiracy charge and ten years imprisonment on the forged commercial check charge, a $250,000.00 fine on each charge, and three years supervised release on each charge. Lawrence faces a maximum possible penalty of ten years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years supervised release. Lawrence remains out on a pre-existing bond while Alexander is being detained pending sentencing.

"We are pleased with the guilty pleas entered by Sadie West, Mary Hardy, Malcolm Alexander, and Jacarda Lawrence. Conspiracies to steal from the U.S. Treasury cause great detriment to our nation's economy and discourage honest taxpayers who pay their fair share. I would like to thank our law enforcement partners and the Office of the United States Attorney for their roles in the investigation and prosecution of this case."

This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Internal Revenue Service, Office of Inspector General and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert Mims.